The clean-up has begun after torrential rain and hailstones the size of pebbles caused flash flooding in Coverack.

The B3294 has been completely destroyed by the flooding and a public meeting is being held at the Paris Hotel at 11.30am.

Cornwall’s multi agency emergency centre was opened in County Hall, Truro to co-ordinate the response to the flash flooding in Coverack.

Anne Rogers, who runs a bed and breakfast in the village, said it was the worst she had ever seen.

She said: "The tarmac from the road is now along the seafront - it is just horrendous.

"It is utter devastation all along the seafront and the cliff side properties are all flooded.

"It has flooded here before but this is by far the worst I have ever seen it.

"Everyone is safe as far as I know. But there will be a very big clean up job. No-one can get in or out of Coverack at the moment. You can not get through. We are all stuck."

The first calls about flooding affecting the village were received at 3.40pm.

The situation then escalated, with further reports of one person being trapped in an outbuilding and six people trapped on the roof of their property.

Assistant chief fire officer Phil Martin said fire crews reported the road being "completely awash with debris," and they had "real difficulty" getting from one side of the village to the other.

He told the Packet: "I have to say that I thought this was going to end in tragedy... I'm delighted that isn't the case.

"The residents of Coverack are resilient."

He added that flood water was "up to six feet" in one property, and the owner managed to save his house by opening the windows to let the water out.

And he said: "The next stage is recovery.

"Cornwall Council, even from midnight last night, were planning what action was going to be taken this morning to start the return to normality."

Following a large number of additional calls to flooded properties , a major incident was declared at 5.20pm, and a helicopter was scrambled to rescue the people trapped on the roof.

About 50 properties are estimated to be affected by the flooding, but no injuries were reported. emergency crews have rescued a number of people from their properties, and this work is continuing. 

Resident Chris Price, who has a property for guests which was flooded to around five and a half feet, said: "If the firemen hadn't broken the windows open I'm pretty sure the front of the house would have been washed out... and the whole house would have been washed into the sea.

"If it wasn't for the firemen's quick actions we'd have lost the cottage."

The road into Coverack has been affected by the flooding and is currently impassable .

Chief Inspector Mark Bolt, who is leading the multi agency team at the emergency centre, said: “This will have been a very distressing incident for all those involved and our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected,  We would like to thank the crews from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, the Search and Rescue helicopter and HM Coastguard Service for their efforts."

With the latest information from the MET office suggesting there is a risk of further heavy rain, the public are asked to drive carefully and not to drive though flood water.

The Emergency Centre was closed overnight, however two fire crews remained in Coverack overnight and other Council staff were on standby to react if needed.  Members of the Council’s Localism team were in the village from this morning to provide support and guidance.

There is a meeting of the multi-agency Recovery group in County Hall at 9 am to coordinate the recovery phase .

The public liaison meeting is being held at 11.30 am at the Paris Hotel this morning . 

The Incident Commander from Cornwall Fire and Rescue and Community Safety Service reported that good progress was being made in dealing with the situation

A number of properties in the village and one of the roads into Coverack have suffered structural damage and are due to be inspected by structural engineers.  Highways engineers from CORMAC are also assessing the damage to the road.

A local hotel has made accommodation available for anyone who is unable to return to their home this evening  One elderly resident has been relocated to a local nursing home.

Representatives from Cornwall Council’s Localism team will be in the village to co ordinate local support and provide information to local residents.